Monoecious Cannabis sativa L. discloses the organ-specific variation in glandular trichomes, cannabinoids content and antioxidant potential

Abstract

Cannabis sativa L., an industrially important plant, is a source of medicinally important cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC). C. sativa is mainly a dioecious plant. However, rarely monoecious plants with hermaphrodite inflorescence were also reported naturally. The monoecious C. sativa plant research is still inadequate compared to dioecious plants. The present study aims to evaluate four monoecious C. sativa accessions (CH-1, CH-2, CH-3 and CH-4) for organ-specific (leaves, male flowers, and female flowers) distribution of trichomes, histochemical localization phytocannabinoids in trichomes, and phytocannabinoids content and antioxidant potential. Results showed that morphological traits differed in all the accessions (p < 0.05). The phytocannabinoids are produced in capitate sessile and capitate stalked glands. The highest density of phytocannabinoids synthesizing glands was found in female flowers (46.67–57.01 mm-2), followed by male flowers (30.73–33.98 mm-2) and leaves (12.37–23.64 mm-2) in different monoecious accessions. The female flower produces the maximum content of total phytocannabinoids. In the same way, the female flower shows the highest free radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity compared to other studied plant parts. In conclusion, the CH-1 accession is superior to the other in terms of morphological characters, phytocannabinoids synthesizing glands and cannabinoids content. Moreover, the levels of phytocannabinoids are higher in female flowers than the male flowers and leaves. The approach towards monoecious accession with higher cannabinoid content has enormous potential for industrial applications.